Roughly one-third of the nonprofit workforce is volunteers, and these supporters maintain your nonprofit operating by finishing program-related duties, helping with fundraisers, spreading consciousness, and usually lending their time and vitality to assist your group. Nonetheless, managing a staff that may come and go randomly is a problem, and to compensate, many nonprofits flip to volunteer software program options.
Nonprofits can profit from a number of kinds of volunteer software program. On this information, we’ll discover three sorts of nonprofit software program centered on volunteers and the way your group can take advantage of every platform. Particularly, we’ll cowl:
First, let’s deal with the basics of volunteer software program. If that is your first time investing in the sort of answer, you’ll have a baseline of what to prioritize.
Volunteer Software program FAQ
What’s volunteer software program?
Volunteer software program consists of expertise platforms designed for nonprofits to handle, interact, and work together with their volunteers. This consists of instruments that permit nonprofits to message volunteers, create shift schedules, and publish volunteer alternatives. It additionally consists of platforms that permit volunteers to finish particular duties, resembling fundraising on a nonprofit’s behalf.
Bear in mind that varied volunteer software program options embrace completely different options. For instance, even when two distributors each provide volunteer administration software program, one might need options for recruitment and coaching, whereas one other focuses particularly on communication and group.
Why do nonprofits want volunteer software program?
Small nonprofits can run volunteer packages with out software program supporting their efforts. Nonetheless, as your volunteer program grows, so will its degree of complexity. With extra volunteers, packages, and duties, nonprofits can profit vastly from utilizing a centralized system to remain organized.
With the assistance of volunteer software program, nonprofits can:
- Higher handle sources. Volunteer software program collects and displays information associated to your volunteer program. This lets you perceive what sources you have got at your disposal, how they’re getting used, and in the event that they might be higher allotted. For instance, you would possibly discover sure packages are at capability for volunteers whereas others want extra assist. On this case, you may edit your schedule to repair this discrepancy.
- Enhance volunteer retention. By operating an organized volunteer program the place supporters obtain immediate communication and clear route, you’re extra more likely to have returning volunteers.
- Launch specialised packages. Sure kinds of volunteer initiatives require software program to operate. For instance, in case you plan to supply digital volunteering alternatives, you’ll possible want software program to attach with these supporters and assign duties.
Volunteer software program platforms differ in scale, and completely different nonprofits will want completely different ranges of assist. Whereas a smaller nonprofit is perhaps content material utilizing its CRM’s volunteer engagement options, a bigger group could desire a extremely customizable volunteer-specific administration platform.
Is volunteer software program free?
Volunteer software program is obtainable at a wide range of worth factors. Some options could provide free packages with restricted options, however most platforms function on a month-to-month or annual subscription system.
For instance, volunteer software program vendor POINT has three worth factors, together with a free choice that gives core administration options, resembling time monitoring and calendar administration.
Nonetheless, different fascinating options, like background checks and waivers, require upgrading to a paid plan. Moreover, POINT, like many different volunteer software program suppliers, affords customized pricing options for enterprise-sized nonprofits.
Volunteer Administration Software program
Numerous volunteer administration software program platforms focus on completely different points of volunteer administration. Nonetheless, each platform ought to provide these core options:
- Database. Many nonprofits use CRMs, which home donor information, resembling their engagement historical past, contact particulars, and cost data. Some CRMs additionally present profile administration options for non-donors, resembling volunteers, however devoted volunteer administration platforms are possible to supply extra strong choices. Search for platforms that assist you to simply construct volunteer profiles, search your database for particular people, and retailer your supporters’ data securely.
- Scheduling. Planning and managing volunteer shifts is important for sustaining a practical volunteer program. Assess administration platforms based mostly on their scheduling-related options, resembling calendar creation, shift assigning and claiming processes, and bulk scheduling.
- Communication. To maintain your volunteer program operating easily, volunteer managers might want to coordinate with quite a few supporters to supply route, guarantee shifts are stuffed, and reply questions. Your volunteer software program ought to help this course of with communication instruments, resembling the flexibility to contact volunteers by way of a number of channels (like electronic mail, textual content messaging, and volunteer app notifications) and automated messaging (like upcoming shift reminders).
- Reporting. Reporting instruments make it easier to make sense of your information to find out the place your volunteer program is succeeding and what might be improved. As an illustration, all volunteer administration software program ought to have primary hours monitoring instruments. You would possibly use this data to find out which instances of yr your nonprofit has the very best volunteer capability.
When assessing volunteer administration software program, contemplate your nonprofit’s wants. Some organizations is perhaps on the lookout for an out-of-the-box answer with an app volunteers can interact with, whereas others would possibly need a customizable platform and complex reporting options. Each vendor has its personal specialties and strengths, so pay attention to what options they spotlight and ask questions throughout demos and gross sales pitches about particular use instances.
Bonus: What are company volunteer administration options?
Whereas for-profit companies don’t have volunteers, some companies do have software program with volunteer administration options. Particularly, companies with company social duty (CSR) packages typically use software program to handle these initiatives.
CSR packages embrace grantmaking, sponsorships, in-kind donations, and worker volunteer initiatives. Some examples of company volunteer packages are:
- Volunteer grants
- Volunteer day without work (VTO)
- Crew volunteer days
- Mentorships
- Internships
To encourage worker volunteering and monitor volunteer initiatives’ outcomes, companies use CSR software program. These instruments permit staff to report their volunteer hours, submit volunteer grant purposes, and request VTO. With some platforms, staff can seek for volunteer alternatives.
Some CSR distributors present customers with a database of respected nonprofits. These platforms then permit customers to seek for related volunteer openings and even let management spotlight and promote particular volunteer alternatives to staff. Discover high CSR distributors to see if it’s potential to submit your nonprofit for consideration to get featured in these databases.
Volunteer Grant Database
Whereas volunteer administration software program permits your volunteer program to operate, instruments like volunteer grant databases allow nonprofits to earn further worth from their packages.
A volunteer grant database offers nonprofits and volunteers with details about company giving and CSR packages associated to volunteering. These databases permit volunteers to seek for their employers and uncover the next particulars:
- Their program eligibility. If an employer affords volunteer grants or VTO, a volunteer grant database will present related details about this system. This consists of which staff are eligible. As an illustration, an organization would possibly present volunteer grants to all staff, however solely full-time workers are eligible for VTO.
- Program necessities. Each firm has its personal volunteer grant necessities, making it difficult for nonprofits to supply steering to volunteers. A volunteer grant database may also help supporters discover related data, resembling what number of hours they should volunteer, what kinds of nonprofits are eligible, and when they should submit their volunteer grant software.
- Subsequent steps. Discovering if a supporter is eligible for a volunteer grant or VTO is nice. However what do they do subsequent? Search for a volunteer grant database that gives hyperlinks to related kinds and pages supporters can comply with to take the subsequent steps to use instantly after confirming their eligibility.
Volunteer grants and VTO earn your nonprofit further income and extra volunteers. Many eligible supporters are unaware these initiatives exist, not to mention in the event that they qualify. By bringing them to your supporters’ consideration, your volunteer program will grow to be much more precious.
Bonus: Our really helpful volunteer grant database supplier!
Presently, the highest volunteer grant database in the marketplace is 360MatchPro’s Volunteer Hub. 360MatchPro initially specialised in matching reward software program, however the volunteer hub expands its choices to supply customers with data on neglected volunteer grants and VTO alternatives.
Just a few of 360MatchPro’s high options embrace:
- Complete database. 360MatchPro’s matching reward database covers 99.68% of all match-eligible donors. This similar comprehensiveness applies to the volunteer arm of the database, which means all your eligible supporters ought to be capable of discover their employers’ data simply.
- Consumer-friendly search course of. 360MatchPro’s search instrument is simple to embed on any web page of your web site, together with your volunteer registration kind. Use it to seize your volunteers’ employer information so you may streamline the search course of and establish in the event that they qualify for volunteer grants or VTO.
- Intensive integrations. Likelihood is that you’ll use your volunteer grant database alongside your volunteer administration software program. 360MatchPro has over 100 integrations with varied CRMs, volunteer administration platforms, and donation instruments, which means chances are high you’ll be capable of add it to your present tech stack with ease.
Get began with 360MatchPro’s Volunteer Hub by scheduling a demo to debate its potential advantages on your nonprofit.
Acquire extra volunteers and have extra time to coach and retain them by leveraging VTO. Uncover how one can make the most of VTO in Double the Donation’s full information.
Peer-to-Peer Software program
Peer-to-peer campaigns are a singular sort of volunteer initiative. Whereas volunteers typically assist with varied fundraisers, in a peer-to-peer marketing campaign, volunteers basically run their very own fundraising campaigns in your behalf.
As a singular sort of program, peer-to-peer campaigns require specialised software program. Just a few particular options embrace:
- Marketing campaign web page creation. Peer-to-peer campaigns succeed as a result of volunteers are in a position to create distinctive donation pages that share their private tales. This permits their family and friends to offer in assist of their beloved one quite than a nonprofit they is perhaps unfamiliar with. Select a peer-to-peer answer that lets your volunteers add their very own pictures, share their tales, and even add movies.
- Social sharing choices. Most fashionable peer-to-peer campaigns function on-line and make heavy use of social media platforms like Fb and Instagram. Your volunteers ought to be capable of simply share their marketing campaign pages and updates on social media to advertise their fundraiser to associates, household, and followers.
- Knowledge and analytics. Like several volunteer program, it’s helpful to have a fowl’s eye view of your volunteers’ actions. Use your platform’s information and analytics instruments to trace how every volunteer’s marketing campaign is performing so you may step in to assist, present encouragement, or provide congratulations.
Peer-to-peer campaigns straddle the strains between being fundraisers and volunteer initiatives. As such, you’ll possible discover software program guides and marketing campaign suggestions categorized underneath each volunteer and fundraising administration.
Regardless, search for software program that permits volunteers to share their distinctive message and fundraise in your behalf with confidence.
Bonus: Peer-to-peer volunteer administration suggestions!
Peer-to-peer volunteers function pretty independently by managing their very own outreach after getting their marketing campaign pages reside. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply your volunteers ought to completely deal with it alone. Enhance your peer-to-peer campaigns by:
- Offering branded property. Whilst you ought to encourage peer-to-peer volunteers to design their very own marketing campaign pages and outreach content material, doing so with out steering can result in a hodgepodge of messages that don’t signify your model properly. As an alternative, share your nonprofit’s model information with them, in addition to a library of branded pictures and property they will use, resembling your brand and professionally taken pictures of your packages.
- Utilizing gamification instruments. Interact your volunteers by turning fundraising right into a recreation. Some peer-to-peer platforms have gamification instruments that do issues like award volunteers badges and factors for hitting milestones, resembling elevating a certain quantity. Some even characteristic leaderboards, letting your volunteers interact in pleasant competitors with each other.
- Checking in routinely. Be certain your volunteers know they’re not fundraising alone. Have your volunteer supervisor verify in with them usually to reply questions, troubleshoot issues, and supply encouragement. This won’t solely enhance volunteers’ campaigns but additionally guarantee volunteers really feel supported by your nonprofit.
Like with any volunteer initiative, you also needs to thank your volunteers for his or her arduous work. Many nonprofits finish their peer-to-peer campaigns with an occasion as a ultimate alternative to fundraise and have a good time volunteers. Think about handing out awards to top-performing volunteers or thanking your peer-to-peer fundraisers as a complete in speeches all through your occasion.
Volunteer Software program Ideas
- Implementation timeline. If you happen to’re investing in a extremely customizable volunteer platform or altering volunteer software program, you’ll possible have a substantial implementation timeline. Make plans emigrate information, work with expertise consultants, and practice your workers to make use of your new platform.
- Onboarding. All volunteers ought to attend an onboarding session earlier than working along with your nonprofit. On this assembly, go over learn how to carry out volunteer duties, who volunteers ought to go to with questions, and what expectations for working along with your nonprofit are. Moreover, if volunteers will use any software program, give them a tutorial on learn how to function it.
- Integrations. Select a volunteer platform that integrates with the remainder of your expertise stack. Software program like 360MatchPro that has many integrations will let information circulation seamlessly from platform to platform. This implies you may entry information in your volunteers with ease and with out worrying about information getting siloed into one system.
Request demos on your high volunteer software program candidates. Throughout these classes, ask questions not simply in regards to the software program however about how the seller will assist you. Search for distributors who present quick technical assist, coaching, and in depth useful resource libraries.
Extra Volunteer Assets
Volunteer software program can elevate your nonprofit’s operations by streamlining volunteer recruitment, administration, and income technology. Discover the number of volunteer platforms obtainable to seek out options that suit your nonprofit’s want.
For extra volunteering and software program sources, take a look at these guides:
